Hello, from another thread that was deleted I will recap... started May15 and I
got fired on June11 2014 because of my "way of handling frustration in the work place" and I guess my "inability to connect with patients emotionally" per my former manager
(But I did meet every other competency very well and can do everything else an RN career entails)
My first incident, I got mad at the vital signs machine because it wasnt giving me a blood pressure...then I took it out on questioning a medication I didnt understand why the patient was getting. A substitute preceptor and the clinical education lady were present when I took out my frustration on the medication on the screen. I wasnt cursing or anything crazy, just saying " Why am I giving this med??? Im not going to give this, no where in the reference manual does the patient meet criteria of why hes getting Risperdone" I guess it was that big of a deal my manager heard about it. They thought I was 'going out of my scope of practice saying I wanted to hold the med'. I dont know..
Next I had 2 drug user patients that gave me a hard time. One made up some story saying "She doesnt have passion, she just takes it like a job"....My manager and I spoke over this incident, we agreed that Im very task oriented and that the patient took it as I didnt care or have passion. But the other side is this patient is stuck on the floor for 48 day, has a manipulative history thats been documented,the rest of the nurses cant stand him and no one really liked working with this patient etc., I never really had a problem with the guy, I actually thought he wasnt so bad. So that incident through me off completely... whatever, nothing I could really do about that one.
The last patient on my last day there, to make it short..was VERY difficult. She was cocaine drug user, from the hood, recently released from prison etc etc the whole 9 yards. This patient was KNOWN on the floor, history of physically fighting staff:blackeye: (I wasnt warned by my preceptor, it was whispered to me by the PCA's). I had to do her admission right at shift change, she was an angel and cooperative with my preceptor. The minute I was left alone with her to do the admission she did a 360 on me, telling me "Man Shut up, I dont know, I dont care, why are you asking me this stuff, Man put whatever you want, get out" etc all while shifting violently and thrashing sheet and smacking pillows. Had to go to my preceptor 2x and get her to finish the admission form with me. Of course the patient was perfect and we both knew this was all an act.
Im not going to lie I did everything I could and in the end the patient got under my skin, I even felt in my gut she was being racial towards me but w.e, I voiced and vented to my preceptor and I guess it was too much Im not sure. I also asked for her expertise and how can I handle this better next time, tips, phrases etc.
I get a voicemail the next day on my day off from my manager saying dont come n, we need to sit down with the other manager and discuss some things that happened over the weekend. I did some homework on how to handle difficult patients, had some articles printed and brought them with me. Found out that same day of the meeting on Friday I was fired.
They did it very well and professionally, was honestly the best 'You're fired' sit down Ive ever experienced. They gave me good feedback and constructive and positive details and well. Suggested that other branches of nursing might work better for me, it really resonated and had me thinking. It just came down to what I mentioned above; my "way of handling frustration in the work place" and I guess my "inability to connect with patients emotionally". Im going to write them a thank you letter for giving me the opportunity and the time I spent at their facility, I really did learn ALOT. (it was a tele, step down, surgical, med surg, psycho, etc kind of floor, we got everything)
I basically need some expertise, I wanted to know what other avenues of nursing I can take that require much less emotional connection and less family centered care. I would like to do something thats fast paced but not so much customer service oriented. Im great at DOING, the manager emphasized I was VERY intelligent and it kinda blew them away at first............................I guess...lol.
So any ideas will help, I tried looking up odd jobs and very different positions nurses cant take. I was thinking correctional nursing maybe? My dream would be the ER but I need experience and thats my other obstacle, Im a new grad... so I NEED experience regardless what avenue I take all I have is about a month or less experience, handled up to 3 patient at a time.
Any ideas or where I can find an RN career counselor??? Thanks..
Specializes in Psych, Corrections, Med-Surg, Ambulatory.
OR was the first thing that came to my mind. Fast-paced and no patient or family bs. (Surgeons, on the other hand...) But there seem to be a lot of opportunities in that area, unless I'm behind the times. On the same note, how about PACU? When they're conscious enough to start being a problem, you can have them wheeled out of there.
Disclaimer: I personally hated OR and never worked in PACU. So some real OR and PACU nurses might have to set me straight.
OP, your attitude on this thread has been positive which leads me to believe there is hope for you…. at a price. Nurses have to eat it. Period. By that I mean smile, be a robot, recite the script you're supposed to say and always always always kiss the patient's/family's butt, especially the ones who deserve it least. Keep your thick skin, try and learn to play the game and if you can keep your personal professional satisfaction ahead of the crap you have to deal with, you'll come out ahead. Take those moments when you know you're made a difference/touched a life and remember why you love being a nurse. I get the impression it's hard for you to deal with stupidity and that's unavoidable. I'm still working on that myself after umpteen years. Hope you have better luck!
Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
Love everything you said....TRUST ME...I learned BIG TIME never to vent to co-workers... Never ever will that happen again..
LMAO!: "You say standard irritating phrases like. I hear what your are saying. I am sorry you feel that way. How can I make it easier/better for you? How can I be more helpful? I'm sorry you are feeling angry/frustrated. or I see that you are frustrated....would you like to tell me about it? Would you like to finish the rest of the admission later? I need this to get started and we can finish when you feeling in better control."
Its true....You're so right. I did say that once or twice on my difficult patient, it made her worse though...
Oh my....well.....to be honest I think Id be better at dealing with that......for some reason. Ill have to take a tour first hand and see.
As for the polite but vague thing....its construed as careless and "not passionate" as one patient put it to my manager. But I learned and will use these tips you gave me for sure next time. I know better now.
I seriously don't believe that the patient said the nurse lacked "passion"...that is a management "buzz word" They believed you were not a good fit and decided to let you go.
I did say that once or twice on my difficult patient, it made her worse though...
That is when you respond with..I see that you need a moment. I am no further than the call bell (make sure it is within reach) I will give you a few moments...leave the room and get the supervisor/charge nurse....then relay the information to them with no bias or real emotion other than wanting to help and learn how to best proceed.... tell them you are unsure on how to best proceed what do they suggest.
You've gotten some good tips here. I especially like that you're supposed to be an actress. Read that advice twice.
Nurses being actors is spot on. I remember when I started my very first clinical, my instructor had causally asked me about hobbies and I told her I did a lot of theater. She laughed, then said that would be an huge advantage for me!
As a school nurse whose office is right next to the dean of students, I often see my frequent fliers after they have gotten in trouble for not what they said, but how they said it. Now, of course, these are teens finding their way, but I must say it doesn't change and applies to every job. Even though we feel our approach or message is fine, it may not appear that way to others. OP, you are very mature for trying to take this experience and learn from it. This job environment may not have been the best fit.
I dont really have another choice than to be positive, being all upset makes me bloat n get fat hahaa.
Ill learn the customer service slave ways so long as I HAVE to, but Im still going to try to get into an area where there is significantly LESS or ZERO customer service expectations.
I just am too realistic,I dont try to be superwoman. Its impossible lol
What about being a Life guard RN? Does that exist???? I LOVE the beach its my life, maybe I have a better opportunity because im a RN??
Thats exactly what she said the patient said. Thats why I was like "How could she really take him seriously?" He said it in such a manner it wreaked manipulation and drama starter. Oh well.
I applied to some PACU positions before this last job and nothing, they all want experience. I heard alot of ER nurses looking to slow down usually go to PACU. So maybe they only really want people with that kind of experience.
I dont like OR because it was boring and that horrid mask, but after my floor experience I can definitely grow to get used to it. Ill apply and see what happens..
Yea the college I went to is so well known and renowned but truthfully its not that big a deal, all student are passed on with a checklist, no real feedback unless you messed up big time. So I would never know how patients really thought of me...
Well I thought of CN (corrections nursing) because maybe its not so customer service oriented. I dont know maybe Im wrong. When im on the floor I have to make every effort possible to appease the patients and thier family. I cant just tell them flat out " I cant do all of your demands, I have other patients I need to see. Ill get you your juice if I get a chance" vs if its a jail I possibly could...
I have never not had the time to get someone a juice, it takes literally 1 minute to do that. When asked for things like that, I get them right away before I get pulled away to do something else and it gets forgotten or not done. That works for me, I am still employed. I have been a pt, waiting for things as small as a juice, or a pillow, or a blanket, or pain medicine, and many times these things were either completely forgotten or took at least an hour and several calls to the nurses station to get. How do you think it makes a person feel to be told or made to feel like you are too busy to take care of them? The reality is hospitals are customer focus based now because reimbursement is now based on patient satisfaction.
Perhaps while you look for another nursing job you should get a job in customer service, just to see the other side of it, when people will tear you down over how their burger is medium not medium rare like they ordered, or their capuccino is not extra dry, as they have asked. Then step into healthcare where they have even higher expectations. Perhaps an anger management class may benefit you as well.
all I have is about a month or less experience, handled up to 3 patient at a time.
TriciaJ, RN
4,328 Posts
OR was the first thing that came to my mind. Fast-paced and no patient or family bs. (Surgeons, on the other hand...) But there seem to be a lot of opportunities in that area, unless I'm behind the times. On the same note, how about PACU? When they're conscious enough to start being a problem, you can have them wheeled out of there.
Disclaimer: I personally hated OR and never worked in PACU. So some real OR and PACU nurses might have to set me straight.